Fluid-motor.



T. J. GRAY.

' FLUID MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24,1904. RENEWED NOV. 29, 1912. I

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Patented June 24, 1913.

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lNVE/VTOR ATTORNEYS T. J. GRAY.

FLUID MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1904. RENEWED NOV. 29, 1912.

1,065,604. Patented June 24, 1913.

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'FLUID MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1904. RENEWED NOV. 29, 1912.

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.11 1 m M m m 7 2 m N Patented June 24, 1913.

BY W1 rnomas J. GRAY, 0F. omeaao, rumors.

From-Moron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1913.

Application filed August 24, 1904, Serial No. 221,945 Renewed November 29, 1912. Serial No. 734,196.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GRAY, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fluid-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fiuld motors in general, and more particularly to gasolene, gas or other internal combustion engines, and especially to engines or motors having a plurality of pistons.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide an improved and highly efficient fluid motor; and a special object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement for simplifylng and mproving the transmission of powerfrom the pistons to the rotary shaft; and another object is to provide an improved construction or arrangement for securing both a mechanically and explosively balanced engine or motor; and it is also an object to provide an improved construction and arrangement of such character as to insure a powerful, smooth and even running of the engine.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of an internal combustion engine involving the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the engine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4--4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of the engine shown in Fig. 1,

one-half of the engine being shown in cross section, and said section being taken on line 55 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the valve actuating mechanism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of one of the plates employed for connecting the pis tons with the rotary shaft.

As thus illustrated, the casin of the engine is practically composed 0 three sections A, B, and C, the middle section A constituting a housin for the cams D and E, and the outer para lei sections B and C providing cylinders for the reciprocating pistons F, G and H, I, the same being'arranged in pairs at opposite sides of said cams. The pistons F and G reciprocate toward and away from each other in the casing-section B, the explosion chamber beinglocated between them, 1 1 a similar manner, the pisjection n reciprocates in the slot 0.

tons H and I reciprocate toward and away from each other in the casing-section C, and the explosions occur between them. The cam D is provided with a zigzag or back and forth cam groove d, while the cam E is provided with a similar groove e. It will be seen that the two cam-grooves, although identical in principle, are of opposite formation. The two cams thus provided are mounted upon a shaft J, the latter being in turn supported in bearings provided by the c linder heads K, which latter are bolted to te ends of the middle casing-section.

It will-be understood that the three sections of the casing can be secured together in any suitable or desired manner. Preferably, the outer casing-sections are provided in their opposing sides with slots 7), b 0, 0. Narrow spaces or ways L and M are provided between the middle casing-section and the two outer casing-sections. Four plates N, N N N are adapted to slide or reciprocate in these narrow spaces, and in unison with the pistons. these plates constitute the means whereby power is communicated from the pistons to the said cams; and to such end each plate is provided with a roller or projection adapted to engage the groove in one of the cams, and also with a pin or other projection adapted to engage one of the pistons and slide in one of the slots formed in the inner sidesof the two cylinders. For example, the-plate N has a roller 01. adapted to engage the cam-groove d, and is also provided with a pin or projection n adapted to engage a transverse opening in the piston H; and it will be seen that this pin or pro- The other plates are, it will be observed, the same as the plate shown in Fig. 7 which serves to connect its allotted piston with one of the cams. With this arrangement, it is obvious that fluid pressure applied between the pistons will cause the rollers on the plates N, N N and N to so act on the cam grooves, that is to say, first on one bevel and then' on the next,-as to rotate the shaft J in its bearings. In other words, the pistons first draw apart and thereby communicate .motion to the shaft, and the momentum of the fly-wheel on the latter then causes the cams to bring the pistons together. In this way, the cams alternately communicate motion from the pistons to the shaft and from the shaft to the pistons. As the pistons and In other words,-

Q ipoaeoa shaft are parallel with each other, and with the provision of the rotary cams, a very compact and powerful engineis obtained. The engine is perfectly balanced, it will be seen, both explosively and mechanically.

If the motor is to be employed as an internal combustion engine, it will be readily understood that the igniting, the admission and exhaust, and the mixing of the air and vapor, can be accomplished in any suitable, known or desired manner. As a matter of further improvement however, and as a valve mechanism which is particularly ap plicable to an engine of this character, each cylinder or outer section of the casing can he provided with admission and exhaust openings 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 4, for example'-c0ntrolled by admission and exhaust valves, 3 and 4. The space 5, between the two valves, may serve as a mixing chamber and communicates with the space or explosion chamber between the two pistons. The .two valves can, of course,'be of any suitable or desired form; but the exhaust valve 4 is preferably connected with the horizontal rod 6 and held normally closed by a spring 7 the rod 6 is mounted to reciprocate in bearing 8, and is held in this normal position by a spring .9. Said rod is also provided with a roller 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. Between the two cams on the shaft J, a cam 11 is mounted and adapted to engage a reciprocating pin or finger 12. The upper end of this pin 12 is provided with abevel 13 adapted to act on the roller 10 for 'the purpose of reciprocating the rod 6. With this arrangement, the rotation of the cam 11 effects, through the medium of the parts 12, 10 and 6, and the cross-piece 14, a proper reciprocation or opening and closing movement of the valve 4. It will be readily understood that the cam 11 must have any suitable formation or contour consistent with the manner in which the exhaust valve is to be operated. The same valve arrangement is, it will be seen, employed at the other side of the engine; and the cam 11 is, therefore, operative to open the two exhaust valves at the proper time. In the arrangement shown, the pistons move apart under the force of the explosions, then come together in order to effect the exhaust, then move apart again for the purpose of drawing in the motive fluid, and then come together again for the purpose of simultaneously compressing the two charges. It is evident, however, that there is an explosion, or, more properly speaking, two simultaneous explosions, to each com lete rotation of the shaft'. But any num er of successive explosions may be employed to each rotation of the shaft without departing from the spirit of my invention. 4 The ends of the spaces l1 and M serve as air pockets against which the outer ends of the plates N, N N and N may cushion when the pistons move apart. A similar cushioning efiect-occurs between the opposing ends of said plates when the pistons come together.

Plates N, N, N, and N constitu'be'slides which are actuated by the pistons, and which are mounted between the pistons and the cams. The rollers on these slides reciprocate back and forth in the slots a provided in the sides of the middle casing section A. With the arrangement shown, the shaft J is bal- 'anced against both lateral and'endwise thrust. In other words, the lateral thrust of one piston on the shaft is counterbalanced by the lateral thrust of the piston on the other side of the shaft. In a similar way, the endwise thrust of the piston on the shaft is counterbalanced by the other piston on the-same side of the shaft. Preferably, however, the endwise thrust of a pair of pistons mounted at opposite sides of the shaft is counteracted bythe opposite endwise thrust upon the shaft by another pair vof pistons also mounted on opposite sides of the shaft. in this way, the shaft is, as stated, practically free from both lateral and endwise thrusts in its bearings. Consequently, the engine as a whole is, as previously stated, balanced both explosively and mechanically.

Obviously, the explosions may occur alternately at opposite sides of the shaft, by suitably adjusting the valves and igniting means. The contact of the pistons at one side of the cams is ofiset or counteracted, as far as lateral thrust of the shaft is concerned, by the contact of the pistons at the other side. Probably simultaneous explosions at opposite sides of the shaft are calculated to effect a more perfect balancing.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a reciprocating trunk piston therein, a rotary shaft parallel with said piston, a rotary cam on said shaft, said cam being positioned at one side of said piston and having a zigzag and endless cam-groove, a slide mounted directly between the adjacent sides of the piston and cam, together with means carried by the slide for engaging said cam-groove and for engaging the side, of the piston, whereby the reciprocation of said piston is converted into rotation on the part of the said shaft.

2. An internal combustion engine com for'engagin said 'oamgrooveS, said "shaft' being there y balanced against endwise grooves carried by'said shaft, reciprocating slides moving'in spaces betweenthe easingsections, and projections on said 'slides'engaging SaId'PIStOIIS and grooves.

4. An internal combustion engine comprlsing a casing, a rotary shaft supported- '-1'n said casing, a'palr of'plstons workingin the casing at one side'of said shaft, a pair of pistons working in the casing 'at'the other side' of said shaft, the members of each pair 'of'pistons having an exp1osion=chamber'be- 'tween their opposing" ends, a pail-of zigzag and endless oam grooves carried by said shaft, means actuated by said pistons and adapted to 'engage said cam-grooves, ad-- mission and exhaust valves, a pair of parallel horizontally arranged reciprocating rods connected with the exhaust valves,'reciprocating members having beveled ends adaptedto engage suitable portions of said rods, and a cam on said shaft forengaging said members and 'therebyoperating said exhaust valves, the shaft and pistonsbeing parallel.

5. The combination of a 'reciprocatory piston, a rotatable member, and means for balancing said member against endwise thrust, and for converting the reciprocation of said piston into rotation on the'part'of said rotatable member, said means including rotary cams on said member, another piston, the two pistons opposing each other, "and means carried on the circumference or periphery of the two pistons for engagingsaid cams, together with an explosion chamber between'the opposing ends of said pistons. v 6. An engine comprising a rotary shaft, a middle casing section in which said shaft is mounted, a cylinder secured toeaoh side of said casing section, a pair of opposed pistons in each cylinder, said pistons and shaft being parallel, a pair of oppositely-formed cam-grooves carried by said shaft, slides mounted between the pistons and the shaft, and means on said slides for removably'engaging said pistons, and for engaging said cam-grooves.

7. In an engine, the combination of a single continuous rotary shaft, a plurality of cylinders arranged in parallel relation to said shaft, a pair of trunk pistons in each cylinder, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons,

and means for imparting rotary'motion to the shaft'from 'thesides 0r=peri pheries of the pistons, said-shaft being thereby balanced against endwise thrust.

S. 'In'an'eng'ine, the combination of a cen- =tral shaft balanced with respect to endwise thrust, a plurality of cylinders disposed on 'diametricallyopposite sides of said shaft in axial parallel relation thereto, a 'pair of *trunk pistons in'each cylinder, there being an'e'xplosionchamber between the members nfeach pair of pistons, andmeans operatively related to the sides or peripheries of =saidpistons'for'imparting rotary motion to "said shaft.

9. In an engine, the combination of two 'sets'of axially alining trunk pistons, each,

piston 'ofthesame' diameter as theone opposing it, cylinders for said pistons, there being an explosion chamber between the 'membersof each pairof pistons, a single 'continuous rotary shaft mounted between said sets of pistons and in parallel relation thereto, and in a common plane therewith, "andmeansdisposed on said shaft and connectedWiththeperipheries of said pistons,

at-p'oints betw'een'the ends thereof, for converting the rectilinear reciprocating motion of said'pistons into rotary motion'of said "shaft, "said shaft being thereby balanced 'a'gainst-endwise thrust.

10. In an engine, the combination of a "single continuous rotary shaft balanced with respect' to 'endwisethrust, a plurality of cylinders arrangedin parallel relation to said shaft, a pair of balanced trunk istons in each cylinder, said pistons each belng of the samediameter as the one opposing it, there being an explosion chamber between the *members' of each pair of pistons, and means forimpartingrotary motion to the balanced 'shaft from the circumference or periphery of said'pist'ons without disturbing the balance thereof.

11. -In an engine,t-he combination of a "centralshaft balanced with'respect to endwise thrust, a plurality of cylinders disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft in axial parallel relation thereto, a pair of trunk pistons in each cylinder, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons, and means oper- "atively-related to the circumference or periphery of said pistons for imparting rotary motion to said shaft.

12. In an engine, the combination of two "sets of axially-alining pistons, a single continuous rotary shaft mounted between said sets of pistons and in parallel relation thereto, and in a common plane therewith, and means on said shaft for converting the rectilinear reciprocating motion of said pistons into rotary motion of said shaft, by engaging the peripheries of said pistons, at points between the ends thereof, said shaft being thereby balanced against endn'ise thrust, cylinders for'said pistons, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons.

13. In an engine, the combination of a rotary shaft, a plurality of cylinders arranged in parallel relation to said shaft, apair of trunk pistonsfin each cylinder, and means for imparting rotary motion to the shaft directly from the peripheries of the pistons, said means including cam-means fixed to said shaft and balanced, or practically balanced, with respect to the axial or end thrust communicated to the shaft from said pistons, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons, and the pistons at one side of the shaft being adapted to move in unison with the corresponding pistons at'the other side thereof.

14. In an engine, the combination of a central shaft, a plurality of cylinders disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft in axial parallel relation thereto, a pair of trunk pistons in each cylinder, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons, and means operatively related to the peripheries of said pistons for imparting rotary motion to said shaft, said means including cammeans fixed to said shaft and balanced, or practically balanced, with respect to the axial or end thrust communicated to. the shaft from said pistons, and the pistons at one side of the shaft being adapted to move in unison with the corresponding pistons at the other side thereof. a

15. In an engine, the combination of two sets of exially-alining trunk pistons, a rotar'y shaft bet-ween said pistons in parallel relation thereto, and in a common plane therewith, cylinders inclosing said pistons, and means on said shaft for converting the rectilinear reciprocating motion of said pistons into rotary motion of said shaft, by engaging the peripheries of said pistons, at points between the ends thereof, said means including cam-means fixed to said shaft and balanced, or practically balanced, with respect to the axial or end thrust communicated to the shaft from said pistons, there being an explosion chamber between the members of each pair of pistons, and the pistons at one side of the shaft being adapted to move in unison with the corresponding pistons at the other side thereof.

16. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a rotary shaft, another cylinder, a pair of pistons disposed at one side of said shaft, in one cylinder, a pair of pistons disposed at the opposite side of said shaft, in the other cylinder, the members of each pair of pistons having an explosion chamber between their opposing ends, a. pair of zigzag and endless cam-grooves carried by said shaft, and means actuated by the said pistons for engaging said cam at grooves, together with a cam mounted be- Locaeoa tween the said cam-grooves, and exhaustvalves operated by said cam.

17. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a rotary shaft, another cylinder, a pair of pistons disposed at one side of said shaft, in one cylinder, a pair of pistons'disposed at the opposite side of said shaft, in the other cylinder, the members of each pair of pistons being of the same diameter and having an explosion chamber between their ends, a pair of zigzag and endless cam-grooves carried by said shaft, and means actuated by and carried on the circumference or periphery of the said pistons for engaging said cam-grooves, the pistons at'one side of the shaft being adapted to move in unison with the pistons at the other side thereof, said shaft being thereby balanced against endwise thrust.

18. In an engine, the combination of two sets of axially-alining trunk pistons, a rotary shaft between said sets of pistons, in parallel relation thereto, and in a common plane therewith, and means on said shaft for converting the rectilinear reciprocating motion of said pistons into rotary motion of said shaft, said means including cams fixed to said shaft and disposed directly between the two sets of pistons, and means carried by the inner sides of the pistons for engaging the cams, together with cylinders provided with slots for the connections between the pistons and cams.

19. In an engine, the combination of arctary shaft, a plurality of cylinders arranged in parallel relation to said shaft, a pair of trunk pistons in each cylinder, and means for imparting rotary motion to the shaft from the pistons, said means including cams fixed to said shaft and disposed directly between the cylinders, and inclosed slides actuated by and carried at the inner sides of the pistons, for engaging the cams.

20. In an engine, the combination of a central shaft, a plurality of cylinders disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft, in axial parallel relation thereto, a pair of trunk pistons in each cylinder, and means operatively related to said pistons for imparting rotary motion to said shaft, said means including cams fixed to said shaft and arranged between the cylinders, and in- Y closed slides actuated by and carried at the inner sides of the pistons, for engaging the cams.

21. An engine comprising a cylinder, a rotary shaft, another cylinder, cam grooves carried by the shaft, pistons parallel with and arranged at opposite sides of said shaft,

in said cylinders, means carried by the periphery of one piston for engaging one of said grooves, and means carried by the periphery of another piston for engaging the other groove, said pistons being adapted to move simultaneously in opposite directions,

wise thrust.

22. In an engine, the combination of a ro-- tary shaft, a cam secured to said shaft, 21 trunk piston parallel with said shaft, a slide disposed between the side of the piston and the side of the cam, means on one side of the slide for removably engaging the side of the piston, and means carried by the other side of the slide for engaging said cam, whereby thereciprocation of the piston is converted into a rotary .motion on the part of said shaft.

23. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a rotary shaft, another cylinder, a couple of balanced cams secured to said shaft, a plurality of pairs of trunk pistons arranged parallel with said shaft, in said cylinders, slides intermediate of the pistons and cams,means for removably connecting the slides with the sides of the pistons, and means carried by the slides for engaging said cams, whereby the reciprocation of the pistons is converted into a rotary motion on the part of said shaft.

24:. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a rotary shaft, a couple of camgrooves carried by said shaft, a pair of trunk pistons parallel with said shaft, in said cylinder, a couple of slides interm iate of the pistons and shaft, means for re 'ovably connecting the slides with the sides of the pistons, and means carried by the slides for engaging said cam-grooves, together with an explosion chamber between'the opposing ends of said pistons, whereby the reciprocation of the pistons is converted into a rotary motion on the part of said shaft.

25. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a shaft, a zigzag and endless camgroove carried by said shaft, a couple of trunk pistons arranged parallel witheach other and with the shaft, in said cylinder, slides interposed between the pistons and the shaft, means for removably connectingthe sides of the pistons with the slides, and means carried by the slides for engaging said cam-groove, whereby reciprocation of the pistons is converted into rotation of the shaft.

Signed by me at Chicago, Ills, this 19th day of August, 1904.

THOMAS J'. GRAY. Witnesses:

CLARENCE M. THOME, LUCY W. WRIGHT. 

